Open seat in District 96 attracts two experienced candidates

Dan Sweeney, Sun Sentinel

Democratic voters in northwest Broward County will choose between Kristin Jacobs and Steve Perman.

Both candidates may be familiar names to voters. Jacobs is term-limited out of her long-time home on the Broward County Commission. Perman, a one-time state representative, is trying to find a new seat in the state Legislature.

Both want to represent District 96, which borders Palm Beach County to the north, Florida's Turnpike to the east, and includes most of Parkland, Coconut Creek and Margate. The winner of the primary is the new House representative, as no Republican is running.

Perman calls this his home district, although he lived in Palm Beach County while a state representative there. Jacobs lives just east of the district but says she is already in the house-hunting process.

Although both are committed Democrats with similar viewpoints, their areas of expertise differ.

Perman touts his health care background as important, since Medicaid expansion is a top priority for many Democrats. In his time in office, Perman fought for greater access to home health care for the elderly. He also wrote bills increasing penalties for trafficking in stolen credit cards and allowing land owners to lease their land to Water Management Districts for fresh water storage without risking their property rights.

Jacobs has a lengthy history of standing up for environmental causes and was picked in July to sit on a national climate change task force created by President Barack Obama. She has also long been an advocate of public transportation and had a large role in plans to bring streetcar service to Broward Boulevard.